He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32
In the quoted passage, the Apostle Paul is saying something astounding.
God gave up His Son for me! That’s a huge thing.
It seems, as we read this passage, that to God, my life is as important as His Son Jesus’ life.
That is EXACTLY what He’s saying, and it is repeated many times in His Word.
God gave up His Son for me! That’s a huge thing.
It seems, as we read this passage, that to God, my life is as important as His Son Jesus’ life.
That is EXACTLY what He’s saying, and it is repeated many times in His Word.
Some get confused though, because they are blind to the goodness of God in their lives.
People ask, “Where’s my stuff? or why did this happen to me?”
Perhaps we have this mindset because we tend to be spiritually nearsighted.
People ask, “Where’s my stuff? or why did this happen to me?”
Perhaps we have this mindset because we tend to be spiritually nearsighted.
Many believers were subjected to great difficulty BECAUSE they followed God,
rather than because they didn’t. Look at Jesus’ followers in the New Testament.
Look at the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament.
They had trouble. I mean real trouble.
God has a way, through the writers of both the Old and New Testaments, of showing
the reader the truth about what it means to be a believer.
It means that God won’t lie to us.
It means that if I’m going to be a disciple, I must understand that God might use me in a way
that will make me very uncomfortable, or worse. Joseph went to prison.
Paul went to prison. Peter was crucified. James was thrown from the temple roof and stoned.
They, among many others, were used to advance The Kingdom of God, but there was a price to
be paid for their obedience.
rather than because they didn’t. Look at Jesus’ followers in the New Testament.
Look at the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament.
They had trouble. I mean real trouble.
God has a way, through the writers of both the Old and New Testaments, of showing
the reader the truth about what it means to be a believer.
It means that God won’t lie to us.
It means that if I’m going to be a disciple, I must understand that God might use me in a way
that will make me very uncomfortable, or worse. Joseph went to prison.
Paul went to prison. Peter was crucified. James was thrown from the temple roof and stoned.
They, among many others, were used to advance The Kingdom of God, but there was a price to
be paid for their obedience.
What does that mean for us? It means, look out! It means, forget the
“God owes me something I want” attitude.
Forget the thought that God is going to give you everything you ask for. He won’t.
He gave up His own Son. We are now his sons. He’ll give us up too if it means bringing
the knowledge of Him to the world.
“God owes me something I want” attitude.
Forget the thought that God is going to give you everything you ask for. He won’t.
He gave up His own Son. We are now his sons. He’ll give us up too if it means bringing
the knowledge of Him to the world.
God is honest. His Word is filled with people who took His path but found it to be very
difficult. We are told, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
difficult. We are told, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
So yeah, feel free to blame your difficulties on God.
Joseph did when he said to his brothers, “you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20. In other words, God let it happen for His higher
purpose. At least He won’t lie to you. He puts the truth right out there for you to see.
This is how He shows His love for us. He treats us as sons to whom He'll tell the secrets
of the kingdom. This means that we must learn to be responsible to carry this message of love
to people, even though the cost to us might be high.
Joseph did when he said to his brothers, “you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20. In other words, God let it happen for His higher
purpose. At least He won’t lie to you. He puts the truth right out there for you to see.
This is how He shows His love for us. He treats us as sons to whom He'll tell the secrets
of the kingdom. This means that we must learn to be responsible to carry this message of love
to people, even though the cost to us might be high.
The question that remains is a question of faith. Is God for me, or is God against me?
Despite the hard times the people in the Bible faced, the record shows again and again that
God is for us. He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus, His own Son, to die for us while we
were still sinners.
Despite the hard times the people in the Bible faced, the record shows again and again that
God is for us. He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus, His own Son, to die for us while we
were still sinners.
He doesn’t make it easy, but He will never lie to us. Men turn the truth of God into a lie
according to Romans 1:15, but Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
according to Romans 1:15, but Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
God is a “Man of His Word.” Be a person of trust and obedience.
Look to the finish line and see what things await you when you arrive.
Look to the finish line and see what things await you when you arrive.
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